Wheel-hub.



No. 674,512. Patented May 2|, |901.

y A. .1. McconMAcK.

W H E E L H U B. (Appncmon med Mar. 29. 1'900.)

(No Model.)

N zu lmiumllpuuumaz UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREYV J. MCCORMACK, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- I-IALF TO ELMER D. BRISTOL, OF SAME PLACE.

WH Ei-:L-HUB.

SPECIFICATION forming' cart of Letters Patent No. 674,512, dated May 21, 1901.

Application filed March 29, 1900l Serial No. 10,668. (No model.)

T M5 11171/0791/ WMI/ZJ OOHGWTL: their relative movementlongitudinally of the Be itknown that I, ANDREW J. MCCOR- hub. MACK, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe The Wheel-hub is adapted to move vertiand State of New York, have invented cercally between the hub-flanges 11, and consists 55 tain new and useful Improvements in 'Wheelof the central or barrel portion 12, upon each Hubs; and I do hereby declare the following end of which are the beveled sides 13, formto be a full, clear, and exact description of ing frustuins of cones, around the outeredges the same, reference being had to the accomof which are disks or broad flanges 14, having panying drawings, forming a part of this small apertures near their outer edges 6o lo specification, and to the reference-numerals adapted to receive the inner endsof the marked thereon. spokes of the wheel. The outer faces of the My present invention has for its object to disks and the inner surfaces of the beveled provide a hub for vehicle-wheels embodying or conical portions form a sharp edgelG along a suitable structure whereby the latter may their meeting-line, and the beveled edges 9'of 65 x5 be connected to the axle of the vehicle-frame the flanges 8 are adapted to abut closely and a limited relative movement of the parts against the latter when in normal position, permitted in order that any sudden jar or as shown in Fig. l, with the outer faces of the jolt upon the rim of the wheel, as in travelflanges resting against the relatively stationing over a rough or uneven road, will not be ary disks 11 on the inner hub. Theinclosed' 7o 2o imparted to the vehicle. flanges S, having the beveled edges corre- 'lo these and other ends my'invention has A spending to and fitting closely against the infor its object to provide certain improve-4 "-'ner surfaces of the beveled portions at the e ments in the construction and combination of sides of the Wheel-hub, serve to center the inparts, all as Will be described, and the novel ner hub upon the latter, permitting the parts 75 features pointed out in the claims at the end to rotate together about the axle 2 as' a comof this specification. 'v mon center, and the lateral movement of the In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-secflanges 8, Which is permitted by the spring tional View through a Wheel constructed in 10, allows the independent vertical moveaccordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is ment of the inner and outer hubs when the 8o 3o a similar view showing the operation of the wheel is jolted or jarred, as in passing over device. Y a rough or uneven surface.

Similar reference-numerals in both figures In the drawings I have shown the hub as indicate similar parts. applied to the rear or driving Wheel of a bi- In illustrating my invention I have shown cycle, and upon one of the disks llis a plate 85 the hub as applied to the rear or driving 17,-extending over the flange l1 and provided Wheel, of a bicycle,the side forks or frame of with a collar 18, having the sprocket-teeth 19 which -is indicated by 1 and the stationary and suitable screws or bolts 20, securing the bolt or axle connecting them by 2. Mounted parts. upon the, latter is a small or internal hub 3, For convenience in assembling the parts 9o 4o supportgliipon its outer ends in ball-bearthe Wheel-hub is constructed in two portions, ings of this usual construction, embodyingthe which are united and secured by bolts 21, ball-cups 4, the balls 5, and the adjustable passing through flanges or ears 22, formed cone 6, threaded on the axle 2. The outer upon the abutting edges. During its operasurface of the hub 3 is preferably cylindrical, tion the wheel rotates about its axle, and the 95 and slidably mounted thereon are collars '7, spring 10 is of sufficient strength to keep tbe having upon theirouteredges circular flanges movable iianges extended and to maintain 8, the outer corners of which are beveled or the inner hub centrally Within the outer one chamfered,asshown at 9. Astiffcoil-spring 10 when the load is applied to the frame; but surrounds the hub and collars 7 and abutting when the rim of thc wheel encounters an ob- Ioo 5o against the inner sides of the flanges serves stacle or depression, causing aserious jolt, the to keep them extended, althoigh permitting inclined sides of the outer hub cooperating FF; il.

with the beveled edges of the flanges 8 will cause the disks to be moved laterally upon the inner hub, compressing the spring and preventing the vibration from being transferred to the frame. The spring expanding will return the parts to their normal position.

Wheel-hubs constructed in this manner are simple and consisting of few parts may be easily and cheaply manufactured, and by employing a circular outer hub supported centrally upon circular flanges having the beveled edges a lateral movement is permitted the hub in all directions, and the outer hub is guided to move in right lines perpendicular to the plane of the axle by the stationary flanges in the inner hub engaging the ends of the outer hub.

The construction shown, whereby the operating parts are located inside of the outer hub, is particularly desirable, as all the operating parts are protected from dust and wear, may be made cheaply, and readily assembled by an unskilled operator.

This device, it will be understood, can be applied to wheels of any kind of vehicle, but is particularly desirable for bicycles or automobiles and as a substitute for pneumatic tires.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a hollow casing supported'within the wheel having oppositelyextending angular surfaces upon its inner side and disks or annular rings at the outer edges of the latter, of the hub arranged within the casing adapted to be mounted upon an axis, Ithe flanges on the hub engaging the disks on the casing, the flanges movably mounted upon the hub and engaging the angular faces to support the casing centrally upon the inclosed hub, and means for permitting the relative movement of the flanges to allow a relative movement between the hub and casing.

2. The combination with a hollow casing supported within the wheel having the conical surfaces at the edges of the casing extending in opposite directions, and the rings Surrounding the edges of the latter, of an internal hub adapted to be mounted upon an axle and having the stationary flanges upon ifs ends engaging the rings, the flanges movably mounted on the hub having the beveled faces engaging the conical surfaces on the casing, and a spring extending between the latter flanges to separate them and center the casing on hub and allowa lateral movement between the said hub and casing.

3. The combination with the inner hub having the guide-flanges, the relatively movable disks and the spring, of the outer hub having rings coperating with the guide-flanges the outer ring-plate 'extending over one guideflange and the sprocket-Wheel thereon, and relatively inclined surfaces between the movable disks on the inner hub and the outer hub. Y

4. The combination with a hub, having the bearings upon its ends, an axle extending through the hub and supported in the bearings, and the radially-extending flanges secured upon the ends of the hub, of the disks mounted upon the h ub and movable relatively longitudinally thereof, the spring between the disks moving them toward the radial flanges on the hub and the outer hollow hub supported in the wheel having the surfaces bearing against the radial flanges on the inner hub and the angular faces engaging the edges of the disks. 4

5. The combination with an inner tubular hub provided with the bearings upon its ends, an axle extending through the hub and supported in the bearings, and the radially-extending flanges upon the ends of the hub, of the annular collars having the disks upon their outerends mounted upon the inner hub, and movable longitudinally thereof, the spring between the disks, and the hollow outer hub supported in the wheel having the bearing-surfaces engaging the radial flanges on the inner hub and provided with the angular faces arranged between said surfaces and engaged by the beveled portions of the disks.

ANDREW J. MCCORMACK.

Witnesses: f

WILLIAM E. DAvIs, G. WILLARD RICH. 

